Daegum Rejects Organizational Restructuring Plan... Personnel Affairs Also Complicated for Park (Comprehensive)

President Kim Osu Practically Opposes... 'Organizational Restructuring Plan' Fails to Be Submitted to the Cabinet Meeting, Deepening Park Beomgye's Dilemma

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] Prosecutor General Kim Oh-soo has officially expressed opposition to the prosecution's organizational restructuring plan. For the Ministry of Justice, which has yet to complete legal revisions, the Prosecutor General's Office's statement has made both the organizational restructuring and the remaining mid-level executive personnel appointments more difficult.

On the 8th, the Prosecutor General's Office stated in its "Position on the Organizational Restructuring Plan" that it is difficult to accept the Ministry of Justice's restructuring plan. The opinion, presented by Prosecutor General Kim at the Prosecutor General's Office chiefs' meeting the previous day, acknowledged the intent and direction to strengthen human rights protection and judicial control but emphasized that stabilizing the system is the most important task at present.

In particular, the limitation of direct investigations by frontline criminal divisions to the organizational chart raised concerns that "it may restrict the institution head's command and supervisory authority, potentially violating the law," and that "a gap may occur where investigations cannot be promptly initiated."

The part requiring ministerial approval, which the prosecution strongly opposes, was argued to seriously undermine the political neutrality and independence of the prosecution. The control measures over direct investigations pertain to investigative procedures, and it is more appropriate to regulate them through Prosecutor General's Office regulations or guidelines rather than embedding them in the organizational chart that defines work assignments. In this regard, the Prosecutor General's Office also explained that it is preparing related regulations.

The Prosecutor General's Office's urgent position statement has deepened Minister of Justice Park Beom-gye's dilemma. Since the prosecution's organizational restructuring plan was not submitted to the Cabinet meeting that morning, Minister Park cannot avoid calculating the scope of acceptance for organizational stability. As Prosecutor General Kim, who is considered pro-government, has opposed Minister Park, there is a possibility that the relationship between the two leaders will be newly redefined.

Moreover, since the restructuring plan involves reorganizing government agencies, even if the Ministry of Justice completes the legal amendment work, it must go through consultations with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Because it involves amending presidential decrees, discussions with the Blue House are also necessary, making it tight to discuss at the Cabinet meeting scheduled for the 15th, a week later.

The timing of mid-level executive personnel appointments has also been delayed. Unlike senior prosecutors who hold approval authority, most mid-level executives are investigative staff, so personnel and department operation policies must reflect the revised organizational chart. Minister Park's repeated emphasis on prioritizing organizational restructuring before mid-level personnel appointments aligns with this context.

The fallout is spreading to major investigations within the prosecution. With the command lines of cases awaiting higher-level approval already reshuffled, the movement of investigative staff has become a variable, leading to a prolonged phase. Lee Doo-bong, head of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office who led the "Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant case," has moved to become head of the Incheon District Prosecutors' Office, and the heads of the Suwon High Prosecutors' Office and District Prosecutors' Office, which investigate and have jurisdiction over the "Kim Hak-ui former Ministry of Justice Vice Minister illegal departure ban suspicion" case, have all been replaced.

A lawyer from the Prosecutor General's Office said, "(Prosecutor General Kim) was repeatedly criticized for his pro-government stance during the previous confirmation hearing, so he must solidify his position as the head of the prosecution in the remaining organizational restructuring and personnel work," expressing concern that "he might be called a mere 'approval prosecutor general' who loses all trust within the prosecution just one month after taking office."

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